Michael sat leaning forward, his elbows resting on his knees. His gaze stayed fixed on Elaira, who was now struggling with the sudden effect of Selene's card. Torren, seated beside him, remained calm, though a faint trace of tension flickered in his eyes.
"Did you see what she just did?" Michael asked, frowning.
"Yes. That's a weight card," Torren replied in a level tone. "It activated instantly the moment Selene touched her hand. Its effect seems to depend entirely on the part of the body it's attached to. Right now, Elaira's right arm is as heavy as lead."
Michael clenched his fist, watching how Elaira tried to adapt.
"If one card can make an arm this heavy, what do the other cards do? Just imagine if she attaches one to the legs…"
Torren nodded slightly.
"That's dangerous. I'm certain her deck includes a wide variety of effects. The weight card is only one of them. She might have cards that restrict magic, create barriers, or even interfere with perception and timing."
"You think she can take Elaira down with just one combination?" Michael asked, doubt in his voice.
"Not immediately," Torren said. "Selene isn't the type to strike head-on. Look at her movements. Even now, after using that card, she's holding back. She's forcing her opponent to react to every step, gradually breaking her rhythm."
Michael pressed his lips together, his expression darkening.
"But Elaira isn't just any contestant. Her predictions give her an edge. She can see what Selene is about to do."
"For now," Torren corrected him. "But if Selene creates enough disruption or imposes a chaotic rhythm, it'll become hard to react. Elaira's power is effective when she has a second or two to foresee the next move. Right now, her reaction is slowed because one arm is already compromised."
Michael stayed silent, observing as Elaira jumped back, trying to regain control.
Not far from them, in a different part of the participants' area, Felix was also watching with a spark of interest.
"Selene's cards… I doubt she's even shown half of her deck's abilities yet," he muttered quietly, mostly to himself.
Katsu, sitting nearby with his eyes closed as if feeling the battle rather than simply watching, added calmly,
"Elaira is playing smart. But Selene is cunning. She doesn't waste cards. The weight card is just the beginning. If she decides to use a full combination, Elaira will need to act faster and sharper."
"You think Elaira has a real chance?" Felix asked.
"There's always a chance," Katsu replied. "But right now, it's fragile. If Elaira can't neutralize the weight card or adapt to it, she'll lose the advantage she had."
Meanwhile, Torren continued to speak quietly with Michael:
"Think about it. If this card can weigh down one part of the body, Selene could trap her completely — one card for the legs to slow her movement, another for her arms to cut off fast strikes. She could gain total control of the fight."
Michael frowned.
"But if Selene tries to use another card, Elaira might predict when she'll do it."
"Maybe. But notice how Selene isn't rushing. She's waiting for Elaira to commit to an attack. Only then will she make her move," Torren explained, his tone analytical.
"You think she has worse cards than this one?" Michael asked, narrowing his eyes.
"No doubt," Torren answered coldly. "I'd bet she has cards with paralyzing or blinding effects. She's too confident in her deck for it to be limited to just this."
Michael exhaled through his teeth, clearly frustrated that he couldn't do anything to help Elaira.
"She has to figure out a way to deal with that card. And fast."
Torren nodded slowly, his eyes locked on the arena.
"She will. But this fight has only just begun."
Elaira stood on the far side of the arena, catching her breath. Her right arm felt unbearably heavy, as if it had been chained to a block of stone. Just moments ago, she was in full control of the fight, but now everything had shifted — Selene clearly held the advantage.
"I have to think of something… If I let her push this further, I'll lose," Elaira thought, clenching her teeth.
Selene stood a few meters away, lazily spinning her deck of cards between her fingers. A sly smile flickered under her hood.
"Something's wrong, Elaira?" Selene asked in a mocking tone. "Just one card, and you're already moving differently."
Elaira tightened her left fist.
"Don't think this will hand you victory. I'll find a way to fight back."
Selene chuckled softly.
"Of course, you can try. But the effect of this card won't wear off quickly. Even if you keep dodging, your strength and speed will keep dropping. All I have to do… is wait."
There was no malice in Selene's voice, but every word was dripping with superiority, as if she was toying with Elaira.
Elaira took a deep breath and stepped forward. The weight on her arm slowed her movements, but retreating was not an option.
"Let's see who wins this," she said firmly.
Selene's grin widened.
"That's the spirit! Come on, show me if you can break through my next trick."
Her fingers slid over the top of her deck, but she didn't draw a new card. She was playing with Elaira's nerves, forcing her to guess when the next move would come.
Elaira paused half a step from the center of the arena. "If I just keep dodging, I'll never win. I need to take a risk before she makes her move."
She closed her eyes for a brief second, allowing her magic of foresight to flood her mind. The future opened before her like a web of shifting images: punches, sidesteps, Selene's feints. Somewhere among these visions was the one chance she needed — if only she could see it clearly.
Selene noticed her concentration and smirked.
"Looking into the future again? Hoping to find a way out? But what if I change the rules right now?"
Elaira's eyes snapped open, and she lunged forward. Despite the heaviness of her arm, she moved with sudden determination. Selene raised an eyebrow, surprised by the burst of speed, but adapted quickly, slipping away from Elaira's strike.
"Ha, now we're talking," Selene laughed, blocking Elaira's left-handed blow and countering with a sharp jab that barely missed.
Elaira retreated quickly, panting. "I can't keep this up… I need to find a way to break that card's effect. If I don't, sooner or later she'll pin me down."
Selene slowly spun the card between her fingers, her voice like velvet.
"Well? Ready for my next move? Or are you already at your limit?"
Elaira said nothing, her sharp gaze fixed on Selene. In her mind, a risky plan was starting to take shape.
Elaira knew that standing still any longer meant losing the fight. Selene looked calm, almost relaxed, as if this wasn't a battle but some kind of game she was enjoying. "I can't let her dictate the pace. I have to break her rhythm," Elaira thought, clenching her teeth and focusing on her left hand.
Gathering her strength, she dashed forward. Her right arm, weighed down by Selene's card, slowed her strikes, but her foresight allowed her to anticipate Selene's movements and adjust her attacks. Elaira launched a flurry of blows with her left hand, hoping to corner Selene or force her to drop her defense.
Selene met her opponent with that unnerving composure that always got under her opponent's skin. Her smile widened beneath the hood.
"Well, that's better. Decided to stop hiding behind dodges?"
Elaira didn't respond. She was entirely focused, watching every step Selene made. In her mind's eye, the immediate future flickered — Selene would dodge right, then block… but then the vision became unclear. A moment later, Elaira felt a sharp, unnatural heaviness in her left shoulder.
Selene had touched her left arm, and in an instant, it became just as heavy as the right.
"Damn it!" Elaira gasped, leaping backward. Both arms now moved like they were bound by iron chains, every swing dragging her down.
Selene took a few slow, confident steps forward.
"Feeling it now? Two cards mean twice the weight. Let's see how many strikes you can land like this."
Elaira gritted her teeth. Each movement was a struggle; even shifting her stance required effort. Her breathing grew heavier, but her eyes burned with determination. "If I just attack blindly now, I'll only wear myself out. I need to think. I need a plan."
She backed off, creating distance. Her foresight kept scanning the flow of the fight, but every vision of attacking showed the same outcome — her blows would be too slow.
"You're holding on better than I expected," Selene continued, her tone almost teasing. "But your foresight can't save you from the simple truth — you're getting slower with every passing second."
Elaira's eyes narrowed as she studied Selene. "She's confident… too confident. But no magic is endless. Her cards must have limits — time, energy, something. I just have to hold on long enough to find it."
The crowd roared in frustration.
"What's wrong with her? She can't even land a hit!"
"That girl with the cards is just playing with her!"
"Show us real magic, not this back-and-forth!"
Michael, sitting on the participants' bench, clenched his fists.
"This is bad."
"Yeah," Torren agreed, eyes fixed on the arena. "But she's looking for an opening. If Elaira can figure out how to counter the cards, this fight isn't over yet."
Elaira took a long breath, focusing inward. Her foresight flared brighter, showing Selene's movements just before they happened. Rather than attacking, she shifted into evasive maneuvers, observing closely how the cards' effects lingered and how Selene reacted.
Selene tilted her head slightly, watching her with that same unnerving grin.
"What's this? Stalling? Afraid to move in now? Too bad for you — waiting won't help."
Her fingers hovered over the deck. Slowly, she drew out another card — a sigil of chains woven with shadow.
"And what if I add just one more? Let's see how you handle three."
Selene raised the card, her smile now sharp and predatory. Elaira's entire body tensed, realizing that the next move could decide everything.